Common Ground is health insurance co-op on ACA exchange

MILWAUKEE (WITI) — The Affordable Care Act’s online insurance marketplaces opened on Tuesday, October 1st, and as some began to shop for health insurance, a Milwaukee-area provider wants folks to know they are offering up something different — an insurance co-op, owned and used by members.

Tuesday was a day Common Ground Healthcare Co-Op has been gearing up for.

“We`re ready. This is Opening Day. We`ve been waiting for this. We`ve been preparing for this,” Common Ground Healthcare Co-Op CEO Bob De Vita said.

The co-op is a non-profit organization that began as a result of federal loans.

As the marketplace opened for healthcare exchanges, Common Ground used Tuesday to spread the word about the organization.

“Individuals can now go online to our website and enroll and get a plan of benefits. They can shop around and go to competitors of ours,” De Vita said.

Volunteers spent Tuesday walking through Milwaukee’s Third Ward — stopping at small businesses to hand out information and flyers.